The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) establishes democratic standards for union trusteeships, which are defined as any receivership, trusteeship, or other method of supervision or control whereby a labor organization suspends the autonomy otherwise available to a subordinate body under its constitution or bylaws. For further information concerning the LMRDA’s trusteeship requirements, please visit the OLMS Union Democracy page and the LMRDA Trusteeship Requirements page.
Upon receipt of a properly submitted trusteeship complaint from a union member, OLMS opens an investigation to determine whether or not the union lawfully imposed or maintained a trusteeship of a subordinate union. See the OLMS Civil Enforcement Actions page for a summary of trusteeship cases in which OLMS brought suit. Upon dismissal of trusteeship complaints, OLMS issues a Statement of Reasons (SOR) to document the reasons for dismissal.
Between fiscal year (FY) 2014 and FY 2023, of the roughly 20,000 unions covered by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) or Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA), parent national or international unions have reported placing on average 326 affiliates in trusteeship per year*. During that period, OLMS has received anywhere from one to 15 complaints per year.
| Fiscal Year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Initial Trusteeship Forms Filed with OLMS | 325 | 303 | 463 | 346 | 360 | 328 | 295 | 243 | 379 | 417 | 3459 |
| Number of Complaints Filed with OLMS | 11 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 81 |
| Percentage of Trusteeships Where a Complaint was Filed with OLMS | 3.38% | 4.95% | 1.30% | 1.73% | 3.06% | 0.30% | 3.72% | 3.70% | 1.32% | 1.44% | 2.34% |
*The right to place a subordinate union in trusteeship is governed by Title III of the LMRDA, and it must be made pursuant to the parent union's governing documents. The 20,000 estimate is based on the total number of unions that file LM reports each year.
Below are the most recent Statements of Reasons for trusteeship cases. OLMS will post these decisions prospectively, and will post decisions from previous years as they become electronically available.
2024
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2023
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2022
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2021
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2020
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2019
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2018
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2017
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2016
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2015
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2014
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2013
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2012
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2011
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2010
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2009
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
2005
Statements of Reasons in Trusteeship Cases
Last Updated: 10-21-24